Christmas Eve Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles have an outfielder in their stocking

Hello, friends.

There are now 100 days remaining until Orioles Opening Day 2016. That is a nice, round number, isn't it? Don't expect any sluggers in your stocking this Christmas, though. The O's will surely do something in the 100 days between now and then... but it might be something totally uninspiring and boring, or perhaps even something horrifying, like forfeit the #14 overall pick to sign Yovani Gallardo.

For now, though, Hyun Soo Kim is here, and that is something fun to talk about. You can read a bit more about the signing here on Camden Chat. In a rare twist, I had just as much access as the regular reporters this time - which is to say that none of us had any, so they were all on my level of not getting to talk to any player.

Kim could turn out to be a real bargain. I hope he does. It would be good for him, good for the O's, and good for fans of the team who watched an absolutely horrible left field situation last year. The O's are said to still be looking for a left-handed bat of any kind - say, we know a guy who fits that bill, don't we? They're also supposedly looking for a starting pitcher. If you think they're going to get both, I've got a bridge to sell you.

Probably nothing is going to happen from now until Monday at the earliest, maybe from now until after New Years. And if the Orioles are waiting around to see who's left standing with a falling price tag, well, it's going to be even longer than that. So much for that rush to pressure Davis into making a choice. Maybe they're hoping his price tag falls too. Betting against Scott Boras is not the smart play, but even he makes mistakes.

Anyway, your Christmas Eve edition of the links.

Around the BlogO'sphere

Marlins claim lefty prospect Tim Berry, re-sign Jeff Mathis - Sun Sentinel
The Orioles actually lost three players on waiver claims yesterday. One was Edgar Olmos, claimed by the Cubs, which made room for Kim. Another was Rey Navarro, who'd already been DFA'd, so who cares. The third was Tim Berry, the 50th round pick in 2009, added to the 40-man last offseason. Berry struggled mightily in 2015. Maybe the O's tried to sneak him through, maybe they didn't really care if they lost him.

Taking a look at the Orioles and the one-year deal - Baltimore Sun
The opening paragraph of this article boldly asserts, "The Orioles aren't afraid of signing players to a one-year deal." Neither is anybody else.

Orioles Minor League Player Suspended For Violating Drug Policy " CBS Baltimore
I've never heard of this guy. You've never heard of this guy. Slow news day.

An Orioles fan's shopping list (Delmarva Now)
This guy writing from the far reaches of Maryland would like to see the O's get a starting pitcher, a corner outfielder, and also re-sign Chris Davis. Santa ain't coming down that chimney, buddy.

Steve Melewski: In O's minors, another way to look at catching statistics (plus another Davis take)
If you are into revisionist statistics, our MASN man Melewski has got a big one for you. Actually, there's probably a point there, especially when evaluating minor league catchers, who may be dealing with pitchers who aren't as skilled at holding runners.

Birthdays and anniversaries

Unsurprisingly, there are no Christmas Eve Orioles-related anniversaries. There are two former Orioles with birthdays today. One is Kevin Millwood, who sucked for the 2010 Orioles. The other is the late Chico Garcia, who played 39 games all the way back in the inaugural Baltimore Orioles season in 1954.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with those former Orioles, you share this birthday with: uh ... designer Kate Spade (1962), basketballer and sportscaster Jay Bilas (1963), singer Ricky Martin (1971), Twilight author Stephanie Meyer (1973), television dude Ryan Seacrest (1974), and One Direction dude Louis Tomlinson (1991).

On this day in history...

In 1800, seven men attempted to assassinate Napoleon Bonaparte in the Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise. Napoleon was not injured in a blast by the "infernal device."

In 1814, the War of 1812 officially came to a close as the Treaty of Ghent was signed.

In 1914, the Christmas truce of World War I began.

In 1968, the crew of the Apollo 8 became the first human beings to orbit the Moon. Among that crew was astronaut Jim Lovell, who went back into space on Apollo 13. I just watched that movie the other day.

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And that's the way it is in Birdland on Christmas Eve - at least, unless something happens later, which it probably won't, because honestly, it's Christmas Eve! Have a safe and Merry Christmas, all you people of Camden Chat.